We spend a great deal of time at work so it should come as no surprise to learn that accidents and injuries in the line of work are not at all unusual. While not all are serious, there are many that result in worker’s compensation claims due to the employee suffering sufficiently enough to require time off work. Some injuries are significant and can leave the worker temporarily or even permanently unable to perform their previous duties as they did before. If you have suffered a work-related injury, you may need treatment to help you heal and get back to work and your ordinary routine. Fortunately, physical therapy can help.

Common Work-Related Injuries

There are many different types of accidents and injuries that can occur in the line of work. Some of the most common work-related injuries that result in the patient requiring physical therapy to support their recovery include:

Slips, trips, and falls. Whether it's tripping over equipment that hasn’t been put away, slipping over on a slick surface, or falling from a ladder or scaffold, these injuries nearly always result in damage to the musculoskeletal system that is very painful and affects movement.

Muscle strain (single episode). A single episode of a muscle strain can be caused by heavy lifting without the proper technique.

Repetitive strain (chronic). Repetitive strain injuries don’t only occur in the line of work but can be commonplace in certain job roles that require repetitive motion. Examples include painters, woodworkers, gardeners, and office workers.

Collisions. If you collide with another object or person or are crushed between two objects, you may experience a range of debilitating injuries.

The most common injuries occur in shipping, manufacturing, maintenance and repair, construction, and service.

How Can Physical Therapy Help With Work-Related Injuries?

Most work-place injuries are related to the musculoskeletal system, which is made up of the bones, joints, muscles, and nerves of the body. The musculoskeletal system gives our body its form, strength, and ability to move. It’s also estimated that as many as 50% of workplace injuries also affect the spine, which houses the central nervous system and is integral to the way in which the rest of the body functions.

One of the biggest misconceptions about physical therapy is that all patients receive the same treatment. This isn’t the case and in fact, one of the biggest benefits of physical therapy is that every patient is treated as an individual and receives a bespoke treatment plan that is based on their individual needs.

The goal of physical therapy is to support the patient in getting back to work and to their usual daily activities as quickly as possible. This is achieved through physical therapy exercises that improve strength, balance, and co-ordination. At the same time, your physical therapy will increase blood flow, reduce inflammation and the discomfort that it causes, restore your mobility and a full range of motion and restore your physical capability so that you can get back to living life to the fullest.

If you have experienced a work-related injury and would like more information about how physical therapy can help you to heal and recover, our dedicated physical therapy team would be happy to help. Please call our clinic in North Massapequa, NY today to schedule an appointment.